Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 521

SIX CYLINDER ENGINE 6-9
CONTENTS OF THIS SECTION
..................................................
General Description 6-9
Cylinder Block
......................................................
6-9
Cylinder Head
........................................................
6-9
Crankshaft and Bearings
......................................
6-9
Camshaft and Drive
..............................................
6-9
Pistons and Connecting Rods
............................
6-12
Valve Train
........................................................
6-12
Hydraulic Valve Lifters
......................................
6- 13
Fuel Distribution System
....................................
6-14
Exhaust System
....................................................
6-14
Combustion Chambers
........................................
6- 14
General Information on Engine Service
................
6-14
Periodic Service..
......................................................
6- 15
Service Operations on Car
......................................
6-15
Engine Insulators-Remove and Replace
............
6- 15
Drive Belts-Adjust
..............................................
6- 16
Engine-Remove and Install
................................
6- 16
Intake and Exhaust Manifolds or Gaskets-
Remove and Replace
......................................
6-1 8
Push Rod Cover or Gasket-Remove and
Replace
...........................................................
6- 19
Valve Springs, Shield or Seals-Remove
and Replace
......................................................
6-19
Push Rod or Valve Lifter-Remove and
Replace
............................................................
6-20
Valve Lifter-Recondition .:$
...............................
6-20
Cylinder Head or Gasket-Remove and
Replace
........................................................
6-23
Rocker Arm Studs-Remove and Replace
..........
6-24
Cylinder Head and Valves-Recondition
..............
6-26
Harmonic Balancer-Remove and Replace
..........
6-28
Timing Gear Cover-Remove and Replace
..........
6-29
Oil Seal-Replace
...........................
. . .
...........
6-29
Oil Nozzle-Replace
..........................................
6-30
Camshaft-Remove and Replace
..........................
6-30
Camshaft Bearings-Remove and Replace
..........
6-33
Oil Pan-Remove and Replace
............................
6-33
Oil Pump
.............................................................
6-34
Rear Main Bearing Oil Seal-Remove and
Replace
...........................................................
6-34
Main Bearings-Remove and Replace
..................
6-35
Connecting Rod Bearings-Remove and
Replace
..........................................................
6-36
Connecting Rod and Piston Assembly-
Remove and Replace
......................................
6-37
Piston Pin-Fit
.................................................
6-38
Cylinder Bores-Inspect
....................................
6-38
Honing or Boring
............................................
6-39
Piston-Fit and Replace
....................................
6-40
Piston Rings-Install
.........................................
6-41
Crankshaft-Remove and Replace
........................
6-43
Fitted Block Assembly-Replace
..........................
6-44
Special Tools
..........................................................
6-46
Specifications
...........................................................
6-99
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
CYLINDER BLOCK
The cast iron cylinder block has one vertical row of six
cylinders numbered from front to rear, 1 through 6. Seven
main bearings support the crankshaft (Fig. 6-7). Bearing
caps fit in recesses in the block which assure accurate
alignment and facilitate assembly.
Cylinders are completely encircled by coolant jackets. For
details of engine cooling system, see ENGINE COOL-
ING AND LUBRICATION, Section 6A.
CYLINDER HEAD
The cast iron cylinder head provides a compression ratio
of 8.5:l.
Two large coolant ports at the rear end of the cylinder
head provide coolant to passages beneath each spark plug.
Coolant surrounds each spark plug mounting and valve
seat. Coolant returns to the water pump through an outlet
at the front of the cylinder head.
Oil is fed through hollow push rods to the upper valve
train for superior lubrication.
CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS
The crankshaft is cast nodular iron and is supported by
seven main bearings.
Main bearings are lubricated from oil holes which inter-
sect the main oil gallery which runs parallel to the cylinder
bores along the right side of the block.
A rubber floated harmonic balancer on the forward end
of the crankshaft dampens any engine torsional vibrations.
CAMSHAFT AND DRIVE
The cast iron camshaft is supported by four bearings and
is gear driven. A steel crankshaft gear drives the camshaft